Flavorful, succulent, fall-apart tender boneless leg of lamb, seasoned Greek-style with loads of garlic, rosemary, oregano and citrus. Let your slow cooker do all the magic as this lamb leg cooks along with pearl onions in a special wine broth. Watch the how-to video toward the end of this post, grab all my tips and step-by-step below. (Don’t have a slow cooker? No worries! See braising instructions.)
Turn this awesome leg of lamb into a Greek feast! Side options: Greek roasted potatoes; Lebanese rice; Spanakopita; Traditional Greek Salad; Greek Green Bean Salad; Fasolada; Tzatziki Sauce; and Creamy Hummus.
If it’s Easter, Christmas, or whatever big occasion requiring an impressive centerpiece kinda dish, I often do my roasted leg of lamb with potatoes. It’s tasty and just glorious to look at (you can check it out here.)
But, if you’re new to working with lamb, it can be intimidating to start with a big bone-in lamb leg. Good news is, you don’t have to!
If you’ve checked out my Kleftko recipe, then you already know that boneless leg of lamb can be just as impressive a dish. And in this recipe, we let the slow cooker do all the heavy lifting. Because, let’s face it, who doesn’t love the ease of dumping everything into the crock, push a button, walk away, and return to a hot, fall-apart piece of meat ready to serve?!
A few Tips for this Boneless Leg of Lamb Recipe
I have three tips here for you:
1. Bring to room temperature, if possible. If you have the time, remove lamb from your fridge and season with salt and pepper then let it rest at room temperature for a bit (bring it to room temperature if possible.) This allows for efficient and even cooking (I know, we are using a slow-cooker, but it still helps, if you have the time.)
2. To Sear or Not to Sear? It’s true that searing (or browning) the lamb before cooking is not a strictly necessary step, but it creates a beautiful crust and a deeper flavor! For me, it’s worth the little extra effort.
3. Flavor the Lamb Well. Many people dismiss lamb because it’s “too gamy,” they say. The common mistake they make is that they don’t appropriately flavor it. In this recipe, we give our leg of lamb proper TLC with some favorite Greek flavors–loads of garlic, rosemary, oregano, fresh thyme, citrus and quality extra virgin olive oil.
Step-by-step: Boneless Leg of Lamb in the Slow Cooker
1. First, once you trim the fat off the leg of lamb, season only with salt and pepper. (If you have the time, let the lamb rest at room temperature for up to 1 hour.) Brown lamb in a cast iron skillet that’s been coated with a little bit of extra virgin olive oil.
2. Now, let’s add more flavor. When lamb is cool enough to touch, using a small knife, make a few slits all over and insert slices of garlic. Add the remaining minced garlic in a small bowl and mix with spices (I used rosemary and sweet paprika), fresh thyme, lemon juice and olive oil to rub all over the lamb. (That’s right, loads of flavor!)
3. Prepare your slow cooker (crock pot). Add pearl onions to the bottom of the pot, then add the liquid (wine and broth) and top with the spiced lamb.
4. Now let the slow cooker do its magic! Cover slow cooker and set on high for 4 hours or on low for 6 to 7 hours or until lamb is super tender that it falls apart at the poke of your fork!
Transfer to a serving platter and add some of that beautiful juice on top or to the side!
Don’t have a slow cooker? You can make this in your Dutch oven or heavy pot! (Braising Instructions)
You can absolutely still make this boneless leg of lamb even if you don’t have a slow cooker. You can use a Dutch oven or an oven safe heavy pot to braise the leg of lamb instead. Important note: You will need to increase the liquid amount from 1 1/2 cups to 3 1/2 cups. Here is how it goes:
1. Pre-heat your oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Brown the lamb as stated in the recipe, but this time use your Dutch oven or large oven-save pot. Remove lamb, and once cooled, make slits and add garlic slivers then apply the garlic spice rub just as directed in the recipe.
3. Place pearl onions in Dutch oven (or prepared oven-safe pot). Add 1 1/2 cups red wine and 2 cups broth.
4. Add lamb to the Dutch oven. Bring to a boil for about 7 to 9 minutes, then cover and transfer to the oven for 2 to 2 1/2 hours or until lamb is very tender. IMPORTANT: be sure to check periodically and add a little more liquid as needed. When lamb is finished, liquid will have reduced to about 1/3 of what it was when you started.
Turn it into a Greek feast! What to Serve Along
If you’re having a special dinner party, this boneless leg of lamb can make a great centerpiece along with other Greek/Mediterranean dishes like:
Watch the Video for How to Make this Boneless Leg of Lamb in Slow Cooker
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Greek Boneless Leg of Lamb (Slow Cooker)
- Total Time: 6 hours 20 minutes
- Yield: Serves up to 6 people
Description
Flavorful, fall-apart tender boneless leg of lamb, seasoned Greek-style with loads of garlic, rosemary, oregano. Let your slow cooker do all the magic as this lamb leg cooks along with pearl onions in a special wine broth.
See notes if you need braising instructions instead. And be sure to check out all the suggestions for what to serve along.
Ingredients
- 3 lb/ 1.360 kg Bone less leg of lamb, fat trimmed
- Kosher salt
- Black pepper
- Early Harvest Greek extra virgin olive oil
- 12 garlic cloves (6 thinly sliced and 6 minced)
- 2 tsp / 2.3 g dry rosemary
- 2 tsp fresh thyme (from 4 or 5 springs)
- 1 tsp dry oregano
- 3/4 tsp sweet paprika
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 1 lb pearl onions, peeled (or shallots, if you prefer)
- 1 cup dry red wine
- 1/2 cup low-sodium broth (beef or chicken broth is fine)
- Parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Pat lamb dry and season generously with kosher salt and black pepper on all sides (if you have the time, set it aside at room temperature for up to 1 hour, otherwise continue on)
- Coat the bottom of a large skillet (I used my cast iron skillet) with a little bit of extra virgin olive oil. Heat skillet over medium heat until oil is shimmering but not smoking. Add the lamb and brown well on all sides (increase heat to medium-high if needed); about 7 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool enough to handle.
- Cut a few slits into the lamb on both sides and insert a slice of garlic in each of the slits.
- Now make a wet garlic spice rub for the lamb. In a small bowl, combine the minced garlic, rosemary, thyme, oregano, and paprika. Add lemon juice and 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil. Coat lamb on all sides with the garlic spice rub.
- Add pearl onions (or shallots) to the bottom of a large slow cooker (crock pot). Add wine and broth, then add the spiced lamb on top.
- Cover slow cooker and set on high for 3 to 4 hours or on low for 5 to 6 hours until lamb is fork-tender and you can easily pull it apart.
- Transfer to a serving platter adding the cooking juice on top or to the side to serve along. (See sides to serve along in the notes)
Notes
- Cook’s Tips: Start with quality lamb from a trusted source or butcher, it makes a difference. And remember, slow cookers vary, so do check on your lamb occasionally as it might be ready sooner or latter than indicated in the recipe.
- Tips for What to Serve Along. You can turn this into a Greek feast! Here are some ideas: Greek potatoes (recipe here); Lebanese Rice (recipe here); Greek Salad (recipe here); Greek Green Bean Salad (recipe here); Tzatziki sauce (recipe here); Classic Creamy Hummus (recipe here)
- Don’t have a slow cooker? You can make this in your Dutch oven or oven-safe pot. The answer here is: braised lamb leg. Important note: You will need to increase the liquid amount from 1 1/2 cups to 3 1/2 cups. Here is how it goes: Pre-heat your oven to 350 degrees F. Brown the lamb as stated in the recipe, but this time use your Dutch oven or large oven-save pot. Remove lamb, and once cooled, make slits and add garlic slivers then apply the garlic spice rub just as directed in the recipe. Place pearl onions in Dutch oven (or prepared oven-safe pot). Add 1 1/2 cups red wine and 2 cups broth. Add lamb to the Dutch oven. Bring to a boil for about 7 to 9 minutes, then cover and transfer to the oven for 2 to 2 1/2 hours or until lamb is very tender. Make sure to check periodically and add more liquid as needed. Remember that ovens vary and your lamb may take a shorter or longer time to cook. When lamb is finished, liquid will have reduced to about 1/3 of what it was when you started.
- Leftovers? Refrigerate leftovers in a tight-lid glass container for 3 to 4 nights or freeze for later use. Warm thawed leftovers in a medium-heated oven; be sure to add enough liquid to your pan and cover with foil till warmed through.
- Visit The Mediterranean Dish Store for all-natural and organic spices and our Greek extra virgin olive oils!
- Prep Time: 20 mins
- Cook Time: 6 hours
- Category: Meat and Poultry/Entree
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
I have a small boneless leg, only 1.8 lb. How long should I cook it for?
Could I marinate the lamb overnight in half the garlic spice rub, then pat dry and season, sear and then add the rest of the garlic spice rub?
I don’t use wine in my cooking, what do I substitute it with?
Hi, Keevin. For this recipe, we recommend substituting it with some beef broth.
I’m excited to try this re ipe but I got a 2.2kg boneless lamb leg. Do you think I should extend the time longer?
Hi, Fran. That’s a little hard to say, as your lamb is not that much bigger than the one used here. I guess I would recommend allowing for just a bit of extra time, to be safe.
Delicious!!!!
Would it be a good idea to add mushrooms( fresh or canned). If so, at what point do I add either types if I’m using a crockpot. I just wa t to add more texture but not sure what goes well with lamb. Also, what should I use to add a little bit of heat and how much.
I think that sounds delicious, Cecilia! I would use halved or quartered whole mushrooms, and add them in with the pearl onions. If you want to add some heat, you can use some Aleppo pepper. Enjoy!
Is sweet paprika necessary, or will regular do? Are they that different?
Thank you.
Hi, Lynn! They are one in the same :).
I made this recipe for Easter Sunday dinner. My aunt couldn’t get over how tender the lamb was (we braised it in a Dutch oven). Excellent, will make again. Thank you!
Do I place the lamb roast on top of the pearl onions fat side up (facing lid) or fat side down (directly on top of onions)? My six quart slow cooker primarily heats from the bottom, though the sides heat as well.
Hello! Either way will work just fine for this recipe. Enjoy!
I made this recipe for a Good Friday dinner. It was wonderful. I followed the directions exactly. An added benefit to this recipe is not only the great result, but also that using a crockpot frees up my oven for side dishes.
Hello,
Thank you for the recipe! Can I make this lamb using the slow cooker function on the Instant Pot?
Absolutely! Enjoy!
Super easy and super tasty! My roast was nearly 6 lbs, so I doubled the amount of seasoning. I then put it in the slow cooker on high for three hours followed by an additional three hours on low.
If doubling the recipe for roughly double the size of the lamb, should I double the three tablespoons of olive oil in the doubled wet spice mix? I’m assuming “yes”, but figured I’d check. Making the lamb now though, so I’m just going to go with “yes” and just wing it. Still – I figured I’d ask here anyway, so I’ll know for sure for next time!
Hello! Yes! We recommend going ahead and doubling everything.